Torque amplifier



Dec. 26, 1961 J. H. KOGEN 3,01

TORQUE AMPLIFIER Filed June 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /22 Q 20 2 M 26 g KI -C Dec. 26, 1961 Filed June 8, 1959 J. H. KOGEN 3,014,461

TORQUE AMPLIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E :i as iii 12 g w w IN VEN TOR.

E ite tats ate This invention relates to power devices for use in the servo-mechanism field and more particularly to a torque amplifier.

The device of the invention is especially useful in applications wherein a heavy load is to be handled in accordance with a weak control signal. The device accepts a low torque rotary input and produces a high torque rotary output through the use of hydraulic amplification and position follow-up. Briefly, the device comprises a first rotor having a central cylindrical portion with a web or vane extending radially from the cylindrical portion, said rotor being rotatably mounted in a housing which includes a web or vane extending inwardly and having the end in engagement with the cylindrical portion, and a second rotor supported for rotary movement within the cylindrical portion. The second rotor has passageway means for jetting a stream of pressurized liquid toward a pair of receiver ports provided in the vane of the first rotor which ports form one end of passageways, the other end of said passageways opening on opposite sides of said vane. In such manner, hydraulic pressure may be selectively applied between the surfaces of the vanes to urge rotation of the first rotor in either direction depending upon the alignment of the jetted liquid with the receiver ports. The first rotor serves as a power take-oil whereby high torque values may be generated depending upon hydraulic pressure and the relative position of the rotors. The second rotor is positioned by signal input means, whereby the load upon the first rotor may be controlled as desired. The device of the invention providesa highly sensitive, simple, compact, and reliable structure representing what is believed to be a novel concept in the field of torque amplifiers. I

An important advantage afforded by the subject device, is that it will automatically operate to provide the exact amount of torque called for by a control signal, as will be more fully understood hereinafter.

The main object of this invention is to provide a torque amplifier.

A more specific object is to provide a device for controlling a heavy load in accordance with a weak input signal.

More general objects are to provide a torque amplifier which is sensitive, simple, compact and reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torque amplifier which will automatically produce the exact amount of torque called for by a control signal.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an operating arrangement of a torque amplifier incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the torque amplifier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view generally as seen along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

PEG. 4 is a perspective view of an output rotor used in the device of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, numeral identifies a torque amplifier representing an embodiment of the invention which is connected via input and drain lines 12 and 14 respectively, to a hydraulic pump 16 which is powered by prime mover i A "a.

means, such as a motor 18. An electro-motive means 2% including a magnet 22 and a coil or winding 24, is arranged so that rotary movement of the coil in response to an electric input signal, will cause rotary movement of a shaft 26 extending from the top of the torque amplifier 10. Projecting from the bottom of the torque amplifier 10, is a shaft 28 to which is afiixed a vane 30 forming part of a butterfly valve (not shown). The electromotive means 20 represents a signal input means, while the butterfly valve vane 30 represents a load which is to be controlled or handled by the torque amplifier. It is to be understood that the signal input means and the load are merely representative; other forms of signal input means and loads may be used without detracting from the utility of the torque amplifier of the invention.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the torque amplifier It comprises an upper, or main housing 32 the major portion of which is cylindrical, a lower, or end housing 34 secured to the main housing 32 by fastening means such as bolts and nuts 36, a power output or controlled rotor 38, including shaft 28, and a signal input, or controlling rotor 49 including shaft 26. The rotor 38 has a cylindrical center portion 42, the upper end of which is arranged to slide in a circular groove 44 formed in an inner wall 46 of the main housing 32, and a web, or vane 48 which is tapered in horizontal section and which is integral at the inner end with the cylindrical center portion 42, and is arranged at the outer end for sliding engagement with the walls of a circular chamber 50 formed in said main housing 32. A top surface 52 of the vane 48 is arranged for sliding engagement with the main housing wall 56, while sides 54 and 56 of the vane 48 are formed to engage slanted walls 58 and so respectively of a web, or vane 62 formed in the main housing 32, in extreme positions of rotation of the rotor 38, i.e., wall 54 engaging wall 53, and wall 56 engaging wall -60. A pair of receiving ports 64 and 66 positioned in the same horizontal plane, form the ends of passageways 6'8 and 70* respectively, which are arranged in the vane 48, passageway 63 opening onto the side 56, while passageway 76 opens onto the side 54. A hearing means 72 is provided for allowing easy rotary movement of the rotor 38 within the housing, while liquid seal means 74 is adapted to seal the assemblage against leakage.

The controlling rotor 40, in addition to shaft 26, includes a disc-like portion 76, which is concentrically arranged within the cylindrical portion 42 of the output rotor 38, and has a passageway 78, one end of which terminates in an orifice disposed in the same horizontal plane as receiving ports 64 and 66, the other end of passageway 7% having an opening 82 on the side of the shaft 26. The input line 12 conveys liquid to a passageway 84 which opens into a chamber 86 in the region of the shaft passageway opening 82. In such manner, liquid under pressure is delivered to orifice 8t! and jetted toward receiving ports 64 and 66. A hearing means 88 supported in the rotor 38, journals one end of the rotor 40, while a bearing means 90 journals the upper end of the rotor 40, whereby the latter is permitted easy rotary motion. Liquid seal means 92 and 94 prevent leakage of liquid from chamber -86. A liquid return passageway 96 connects the volume within cylindrical portion 42 to the drain line 14.

A radially arranged pin 98 secured to the cylindrical portion 42, extends into a slot 100 formed in the side of the rotor disc-like portion 76, to limit maximum relative movement between rotors 38 and 40 whereby the orifice 80 will not overshoot either of the receiver ports 64 or 66.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device of the invention should be easily understood. Assume that liquid under pressure is being delivered to the controlling rotor 40, and the latter is rotated clockwise (FIG. 3) in response to a signal which generates a torque for turning the rotor. It will be seen that orifice 80 will be moved into alignment with receiver port 66 whereby pressurized liquid will fiow through passageway 70, and into the volume bounded at each end by vane sides 54 and 58. Pressure increase within said volume will result in a clockwise movement of the rotor 38. During such rotary movement, liquid in the volume bounded at each end by vane sides 56 and 60, will be of less pressure and will escape via passageway 68 into the chamber enclosing the rotor portion 76, and then out passageway 96 into drain line 14. The static pressure of the liquid acting upon the vane side 54, will develop a rotary torque which will be the product of the value of said pressure and the effective moment arm, i.e., distance between center of pressure and center of the rotor.

Movement of the controlling rotor 40 in counter-clockwise direction, will increase the pressure in the volume bound at each end by vane sides 56 and 60, thus causing counter-clockwise movement of the rotor 38. Again, the rotary torque developed will be the product of the pressure and the effective moment arm, which will be equal and opposite to that of clockwise movement under similar conditions.

It will be seen that by variation of liquid pressure, output torque may be established within any desired range and further, that the following movement of the output rotor 38 will be such as to provide a given angular relationship between the rotor 38 and rotor 40, depending on load requirements. In other words, it full output torque is called for, the orifice 80 will be in direct alignment with either receiving port 64 or 66; if less than full output torque is called for, the orifice and receiving port relationship will be less than full alignment. In such manner the device will automatically provide the exact amount of torque called for by the control signal.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the torque amplifier of the invention satisfies the objectives set forth hereinbefore.

The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention of the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a servo-mechanism arrangement including means to rotatably position a controlling rotor means, a power device comprising a controlling rotor means, a controlled rotor means, said rotor means rotatably positionable and in spaced relation relative to each other, a housing means rotatably supporting each of said rotor means, means to supply pressurized fluid to said controlling rotor means and to continuously eject it therefrom in a jet stream, and means including receiver ports arranged in said controlled rotor means adapted to receive said jet stream and to direct it to a confined area to cause movement of said controlled rotor means relative to said housing means.

2. In a servo-mechanism arrangement including means to rotatably position a controlling rotor means, a power device comprising a controlling rotor means, a controlled rotor means, said rotor means rotatably positionable and in spaced relation relative to each other, a housing means rotatably supporting each of said rotor means, means to supply pressurized fluid to said controlling rotor means and to continuously eject it therefrom in a jet stream, and means including receiver ports arranged in said controlled rotor means, said receiver ports having passageways leading to separate volume chambers whereby an unbalance of fluid pressures between the chambers will cause rotary movement of said controlled rotor means relative to said housing means.

3. A torque amplifier comprising a signal input rotor, a power output rotor, said rotors rotatably positionable and in spaced relation relative to each other, a housing for rotatably supporting each of said rotors, means provided on the output rotor and the housing to form separate volume chambers which vary in size depending upon the rotary position of the output rotor relative to the housing, said output rotor being formed to provide a pair of receiver ports arranged in the same plane and having associated passageways each of which leads to one of said chambers, said signal input rotor being formed to provide an orifice in the same horizontal plane as that of the receiver ports, and means to direct pressure fluid so that it is continuously ejected in a jet stream from said orifice toward said receiver ports whereby fluid pressure may be developed in said chambers to cause rotation of said power output rotor.

4. A torque amplifier comprising a signal input rotor, a power output rotor, said rotors being concentric, in spaced relation, and rotatively positionable relative to each other, a housing for rotatably supporting each of said rotors, said output rotor having a cylindrical portion and a radially arranged vane formed integral with the cylindrical portion, said housing having a vane projecting radially inward with the inner end in engagement with an outer wall of said cylindrical portion, said rotor vane and housing vane forming theends of separate volume chambers, said output rotor being formed to provide a pair of receiver ports arranged in the same plane and having associated passageways each leading to and opening onto opposite sides of said output rotor vane, said input rotor being formed to provide an orifice in the same plane as said receiver ports, fluid conveying means adapted to continuously direct a jet stream of pressure fluid from said orifice toward said receiver ports whereby fluid pressure may be developed in said chambers.

5. A torque amplifier according to claim 4, wherein said input rotor includes a shaft and a disc-like portion, said input rotor being formed to provide a passageway one end of which is defined by said orifice, the other end of which opens onto the side of the shaft in the region of a fluid receiving chamber formed between the shaft and the housing.

6. A torque amplifier according to claim 5, wherein said fluid conveying means includes a passageway formed in the housing one end of said passageway opening into said fluid receiving chamber between the shaft and the housing the other end of said passageway being arranged to receive a fluid conducting line.

7. A torque amplifier according to claim 6, wherein said housing is formed to provide a fluid return passageway one end of which opens into a volume defined within the output rotor cylindrical portion, the other end of said fluid return passageway being arranged to receive a fluid drain line.

8. A torque amplifier according to claim 7, wherein means are provided to limit movement of the orifice relative to the receiver ports.

9. A torque amplifier comprising a signal input rotor, a power output rotor, a housing for rotatably supporting said rotors in concentric arrangement, said output rotor having a cylindrical portion and a radially arranged vane formed integral with the cylindrical portion, said housing having a vane projecting radially inward with the inner end in engagement with the outer wall of said cylindrical portion, said input rotor having a disc-like portion which is positioned within said cylindrical portion, and a shaft portion formed integral with the disc-like portion, said housing providing a pair of volume chambers the ends of which are formed by said rotor vane and said housing vane, said housing providing a further chamber formed within said cylindrical portion, said output rotor being formed to provide a pair of receiver ports arranged in the same plane, each of said ports having associated passageways leading to and opening onto opposite sides of the rotor vane, said input rotor being formed to provide an orifice in the same plane as said receiver ports, said orifice having an associated passageway which opens onto the outside of said shaft portion in a volume defined by the exterior of the shaft and an inner region of the housing, said housing being formed with passageway means one end of which opens in the region of the shaft passageway opening, the other end of which is arranged to receive a 5 fluid delivery line, said housing being formed with a further passageway opening at one end onto the cylindrical chamber and being provided at the other end to receive a fluid-drain line, and a pin and slot arrangement adapted to limit movement of the orifice relative to the 1 receiver ports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tucker Sept. 6, 1932 Morin et a1 Oct. 28, 1941 Chisholm Apr. 3, 1945 Diebel Oct. 14, 1952 Teague Feb. 17, 1953 Slatter et al Feb. 17, 1953 Sweeney Oct. 30, 1956 

